US 11,673,188 B2
Method for removing refractory metal cores
Daniel A. Bales, Avon, CT (US); and Thomas DeMichael, Stafford Springs, CT (US)
Assigned to Raytheon Technologies Corporation, Farmington, CT (US)
Filed by Raytheon Technologies Corporation, Farmington, CT (US)
Filed on Feb. 21, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/676,430.
Application 17/676,430 is a division of application No. 16/816,865, filed on Mar. 12, 2020, granted, now 11,325,182.
Prior Publication US 2022/0168803 A1, Jun. 2, 2022
Int. Cl. B22D 29/00 (2006.01); F27B 5/00 (2006.01); F27B 5/02 (2006.01); F27B 5/06 (2006.01); F27B 5/14 (2006.01)
CPC B22D 29/002 (2013.01) [F27B 5/00 (2013.01); F27B 5/02 (2013.01); F27B 5/06 (2013.01); F27B 5/14 (2013.01)] 6 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A process for removing a molybdenum-alloy refractory metal core from a turbine blade through sublimation comprising:
installing at least one turbine blade in a sublimation fixture;
installing said sublimation fixture in an interior of a retort furnace, a flow passage thermally coupled to said retort furnace configured to heat air flowing through said flow passage and deliver said heated air to a molybdenum-alloy refractory metal core;
supplying the air from an air source to a coupling fluidly coupled to said flow passage;
heating said air flowing through said flow passage;
supplying said heated air from said flow passage to a junction; coupling said junction to said sublimation fixture;
removing the molybdenum-alloy refractory metal core from said at least one turbine blade through sublimation with said heated air; and
capturing waste discharged from the blade responsive to sublimation of said molybdenum-alloy refractory metal core responsive to said sublimation.